SCOTT Banks is delighted with the "freedom" he has under City boss Mark Hughes, with the on-loan Crystal Palace winger on cloud nine after Saturday's 2-0 win at Sutton.

His world-class curling effort from outside the box sealed the three points for the Bantams at Gander Green Lane, but he was a threat throughout the game, as he so often is.

Banks told the T&A afterwards: "The manager gives us the freedom to express ourselves in those high areas, and as a young attacking player, that's all you want.

"You have to make sure you do it in the right areas, but when I can, it's having that freedom to go and score and assist, or create in whatever way I can.

"To play with that freedom is exciting."

Banks put in a shift defensively too, with one outstanding charge-down in particular evidently impressing Hughes on the touchline.

The winger said: "I've got freedom when I'm on the ball, for sure, but off the ball I've got my role to play.

"I've got my job to do for the team and I think I did that today.

"It's something I've got to prove to people that I'm capable of, and I think I'm learning the importance of that at City.

"It's not just the manager that's on to me, the other players are driving the standards, and I know I'm there to do a job off the ball, which I think I am."

When asked about the difference between Under-23s football at Palace, and League Two football with City, the 21-year-old said: "It's much more competitive in this division.

"The 23s games have been a great experience for me and I've really enjoyed them, but to be in this league, with people playing for their livelihoods and families, there's a different atmosphere.

"That's especially obvious with us having the fans here, as it's no contest playing in front of them to not having that.

"It's a much more enjoyable experience as a player to have them there and I'm loving my football here at the moment."

And on his wonder goal at the weekend, Banks said: "It doesn't matter how they go in, the feeling of scoring a goal is always very similar.

"But to watch them go in off your boot like that is special.

"I have an eye for goal from outside the box and to get another one like that was a great feeling.

"I've shown the quality to find that corner a couple of times now, and teams probably know it's coming, me cutting in on to my left foot.

"But that gives me the ability to fake that, and go down the line, or to come in.

"It's something that makes me unpredictable."